Die-block



(No Model.)

G. W. SIMMONS.

' DIE BLOCK.

No 305,246. r Patented Sept. 16,1884,

wnmzssns: 1(12VENTOR e2 J ATTORNEYS several strips or bloc-ks glued together.

' blocks.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WESTONSIMMONS, OF BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SDIIE-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 305,246, dated September 16, 1884.

Application filed May 13, 1884. (X0 model.)

The invention consists in certain improvea.

ment in die-blocks, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 shows a series of my improved dieblocks clamped together. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a single block. Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing four blocks clamped together. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a series of blocks, showing a modification in the manner of clamping them.

Each die-block A has the shape of a cube, and is formed of a single block of wood, or of Each block is provided wit-h two central transverse apertures, B, which cross each other at right angles. A series of blocks, A, is placed in a row, andflat bars 0 are placed against the sides of the blocks, and bolts D passed through the apertures 13 in the blocks and through apertures in the bars 0, and nuts D are then screwed 011 the threaded ends of the bolts and are drawn up tightly. Screws F are formed on the ends of the bars 0, and are passed through apertures on end bars, G, and then nuts H are screwed on the said screws F, and drawn up tightly to press the end bars against the end of the row of blocks. The blocks can be clamped together in two rowsas a cluster, as shown in Fig. 4.

In place of the frame formed of the bars 0 and G, a single bolt, J, can be used, which is passed longitudinally through the several The bolt J is provided with a head, K, on one end, and a nut, L, on the opposite end. This will do for light work.

The 1naterial-such as cloth, leather, &c. to be cut out by means of the dies is placed on the above-described block, and pressure is applied on the die, either by hand or machine power or by striking blows on the dies, whereby the cutting-edge of the die will be forced through the material and into the surface of the die-block.

If the receiving or supporting surface of any block has worn off, the block can be reversed, or the blocks can be interchanged and all four surfaces of the block can be utilized.

The die-block can be planed on to have a perfectly-smooth bearing-surface, and thereby the danger of breaking or damaging valuable dies is avoided.

I am aware that a die-block has been formed of a series of oblong blocks and secured to gether by end plates and bolts, all outside of the blocks, and I do not desire to claim such as of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As an improved article of manufacture,

a die-block consisting of a series of cubical blocks having two central apertures crossing each other, and a bolt passing through one of the said apertures in the several blocks, sub stantially as shown and described, whereby the blocks may be reversed to present any of the faces of the said blocks to form a new surface.

2. A die-block consisting of the cubical blocks A, provided with intersecting apertures B, rods D, passing through each of said blocks and formed with screw-threaded ends,

bars 0, provided with apertures to allow the threaded ends to pass through, and with screwthreaded ends F, end bars, G, apertured to receive the ends of bars 0, and nuts D and H, for clamping said bolts and bars in place, substantially as set forth.

GEORGE \VESTON SIMMONS. \Vitnesses:

CHARLES W. SUMNER, JOHN SIMMONS. 

